Mawkina’masultinej: Let’s Learn Together! Kataq (eels)

Inquiring Into Eels

On this page you will find resources and curriculum connections to help you lead students through an inquiry unit on eels and the significance of eels in the lives of Mi’kmaw people. This project was inspired by the book, Kataq, produced by the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources.

What is Inquiry?

Inquiry is the result of human beings’ wonderings and curiosities about the natural or constructed world (Barell, 2008; Krauss, 2013). Our natural inquisitiveness is the driving force to ask questions and formulate means of authentic learning, and it is this inquisitiveness and passion that moves us forward (Krauss, 2013; The National Science Foundation, ND; Pahomov, 2014) and pushes our ability to think in critical, creative and divergent ways (Bateman, 1990; Krauss, 2013). IBL is a student-centred learning process that emphasizes the importance of motivating students to engage in and learn through the process of purposeful experiential investigations and research in order to better understand the world (Abuhimed, Beheshti, Cole, AlGhamdi & Lamoureux, 2013; Galileo Educational Network, 1999-2014; Kanter & Konstantopoulos, 2010; Prince, 2004; Rusche & Jason, 2011). Inquiry invites children to explore questions of interest to them related to a given topic. Through inquiry, students can cover a large number of curriculum outcomes through authentically exploring a topic of relevance to them.

Why Inquire into Eels?

American eels and eeling are deeply connected to historical and present day Mi’kmaw traditions, culture and way of life. Chronicles of the importance of the Ka’t, or American eel, can be seen in its relation to its many uses within ceremonies, throughout narratives as a source of food and medicine and through legends.

American eels were once a plentiful resource; however, there is growing concern as to the decline of the eel population. Observations from local eelers correspond with scientific researchers’ work that reveals the alarming rate in which the numbers have fallen. As noted by the Bluenose Coastal Action foundation (2011),

“Historically, the American eel had the largest range of any fish species in the western hemisphere, and had a dominant position by numbers and biomass in many habitats it occupied. As such, American eel is a very important component of Canadian biodiversity, possibly playing a key role in habitats where it exists. American eel abundance has declined in Canada since the mid-1980s. Although the reasons for the decline are not completely known, key threats have been identified. These threats include fishing, dams, contaminants, and environmental degradation.”

Both scientific research and Aboriginal traditional wisdom have raised the alarm that the population of American Eel is declining. Work is currently underway within various communities and organizations to assess the reasons for this waning population. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada now considers the American eel a species of special interest. All involved in this area of research are working towards protection and restoration of the Ka’t population.

How do I Connect this to Curriculum?

Teachers are encouraged to use the Inquiry Project Details below for the appropriate grade. These projects include links to provincial Mathematics (WNCP), Science, Social, English Language Arts, Mi’kmaq Language, and other content area outcomes. These guides also contain examples of essential questions that can be used to start an inquiry project on bead work. There are also suggestions about how the bead work inquiry fits within various units within the curricula.